Universal in line and end suction pump arrangement

ABSTRACT

A centrifugal pump having an inlet and a discharge with a universal mounting surface positioned about the inlet. An extension to the inlet including a pump supporting foot can be attached to the universal mounting surface. Additionally, an in line pump inlet can be attached to either the foot support inlet or the pump inlet to provide an inlet to the pump in line with the pump discharge.

United States Patent 1 1 Lipe 1 1 Feb. 12, 1974 1 1 UNIVERSAL IN LINE AND END SUCTION PUMP ARRANGEMENT [75] Inventor: Bruce R. Lipe, Cincinnati, Ohio [73] Assignee: Allis-Chalmers Corporation,

Mi1waukee, Wis.

[22] Filed: July 31, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 276,848

[52] U.S.Cl ..4l5/l21,415/182,415/206,

415/219 C, 417/424 [51] Int. Cl. F04d 29/40, F04d 17/08 [58] Field of Search 417/424; 415/112, 206; 416/500 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,071,075 1/1963 Spring 416/500 3,089,943 4/1963 Weis 415/170 A 3,249,057 5/1966 Callahan 415/112 3,601,498 8/1971 Schroeder 415/201 3,457,868 7/1969 Eaton 415/201 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,165,890 6/1958 France 417/424 Primary Examiner-Henry F. Raduazo Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John P. Hines [57] ABSTRACT A centrifugal pump having an inlet and a discharge with a universal mounting surface positioned about the inlet. An extension to the inlet including a pump supporting foot can be attached to the universal mounting surface. Additionally, an in line pump inlet can be attached to either the foot support inlet or the pump inlet to provide an inlet to the pump in line with the pump discharge.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures UNIVERSAL IN LINE AND END SUCTION PUMP ARRANGEMENT This invention pertains in general to centrifugal pumps and more particularly to a centrifugal pump having a universal mounting surface to which different types of suction inlets can be attached.

It is the general intention and main object of the invention to provide a centrifugal pump having an axially disposed inlet and a tangentially disposed outlet with a universal mounting surface disposed about the inlet to which different types of suction inlets can be attached.

Another object of this invention is to provide a centrifugal pump of the hereinbefore described type to which an end suction inlet can be attached which is provided with a pump supporting bracket.

A further object of the subject invention is to provide a centrifugal pump of the hereinbefore described type to which an in line suction inlet can be attached.

An additional object of the subject invention is to provide a centrifugal pump of the hereinbefore described type wherein the in line suction inlet can be attached in any one of a plurality of angularly disposed locations.

These and other objects of the subject invention will become more fully apparent as the following description is read in light of the attached drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation partially in section of a close coupled pump motor combination with the pump having an end suction arrangement;

FIG. 2 is anend view of FIG. ,1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a centrifugal pump connected to a bearing bracket having an end suction inlet with a pump supporting bracket attached thereto;

FIG. 4 shows a vertically mounted pump motor combination with an in line suction inlet and pump discharge;

FIG. 5 shows schematically some of the possible angularly spaced mounting positions for the in line suction inlet; and FIG. 6 is a side elevation of a centrifugal pump similar to that shown in FIG. 3 with the in line suction inlet and pump discharge housing shown in FIG. 4 attached thereto.

Depending on the particular type of installation involved, many difierent types of pump installations are required. Close coupled pump 'motor combinations as shown in FIG. 1 are advantageous in the smaller sizes of pumps and motors wherein space requirements do not permit elaborate arrangements and the pump can be mounted directly to and supported by the motor. The motor is provided with the necessary supporting means or feet. FIG. 3 shows a different type of arrange ment wherein part of the weight of the pump must be supported by the bearing bracket and a support connected directly to the pump. FIG. 4 shows a motor basic pump casing in order to satisfy the different arrangements.

Referring to the drawings, the basic pump casing and impeller arrangement is the same for all three arrangements. The pump is provided with a casing generally designated 6 having an end suction inlet 7 and a tangentially disposed discharge 8. A universal end mounting surface 9 is provided about the inlet 7. A pumping chamber 11 is defined by the pump casing and is in fluid communication with both the pump inlet and discharge. A centrifugal impeller 12 is supported for rotation within the pumping chamber 11.

A mounting bracket 13 is releasably connected to the backing plate 14 of the pump casing 6. A shaft seal housing 16 is provided on the plate 16 through which the impeller shaft 17 extends.

As shown in FIG. 1, the mounting bracket 13 is connected to a conventional electrical motor 18. The electric motor shaft is in effect an extension of the pump shaft and the pump impeller is connected to the end of the motor shaft. The bearings within the motor support the pump impeller. The motor supporting feet 19 support both the motor and the pump. The process fluid line is connected directly to the universal end suction surface 9.

In FIG. 3 the mounting bracket 13 is connected to a bearing housing 21. The pump shaft extends through the bearing housing and is positioned for connection to the shaft of an electric motor or other driving means. The bearing housing 21 has a supporting foot 22 connected thereto. With this arrangement an additional support is needed for the pump casing in order to provide the necessary stability. This is provided by a support means 23 which is releasably connected to the universal end mounting surface 9. The support means 23 includes a pump supporting foot 24 and a mounting flange 26 for attachment to the process fluid line. This attaching means or flange 26 is in effect an additional universal end suction mounting surface to which either the process fluid line or the in line suction inlet shown in FIG. 3 may be attached.

Referring now to FIG. 4, an auxiliary or in line suction inlet casing 27 is provided with a mounting surface 28 which is adaptable for connection to the universal end suction mounting surface 9 or the attaching flange 26. This in line suction casing 27 can be attached to the universal mounting surface in any one of a plurality of angularly disposed positions as shown schematically in FIG. 5. In any one of, these positions, the suction inlet is in line with the discharge 8 of the pump.

With the arrangement above described, a plurality of different pump arrangements can be provided with only a minimum of duplication of parts required. In the past, different casings for each of the three different arrangements had to be stocked by the pump manufacturers. It can readily be seen that the cost of inventory of such an assortment of large and expensive castings created a heavy financial burden for the manufacturer. With this arrangement, only a single pump casing is required. To this basic pump casing can be attached the different inlet components which are required for the different pumping arrangements.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. The combination of a pump for connection to a fluid containing conduit comprising: a pump casing deand an auxiliary casing having an inlet disposed substantially at a right angle to said pump impeller axis adapted for connection to said fluid containing conduit, said auxiliary casing having a discharge end mounting surface connected in fluid communication to said support means inlet end mounting surface, each of said mounting surfaces being constructed and arranged whereby selective connection to one another and to said conduit is permitted. 

1. The combination of a pump for connection to a fluid containing conduit comprising: a pump casing defining a pumping chamber having an impeller positioned for rotation within said chamber about an axis; an axially disposed fluid inlet and a tangentially disposed fluid outlet connected in fluid communication with said chamber; a pump casing mounting surface located about said inlet; a support means for said pump having an inlet end and a discharge end connected to said pump casing mounting surface in fluid commUnication with said pumping chamber, said support means having a mounting surface located about its inlet end; and an auxiliary casing having an inlet disposed substantially at a right angle to said pump impeller axis adapted for connection to said fluid containing conduit, said auxiliary casing having a discharge end mounting surface connected in fluid communication to said support means inlet end mounting surface, each of said mounting surfaces being constructed and arranged whereby selective connection to one another and to said conduit is permitted. 